[Forensic autopsy--anatomical diagnosis of asphyxial death]

In hospital cases, since a clinical history is usually present and the cause of death suspected, the chief duty of the pathologist is to describe and study the pathologic conditions revealed by his dissection. In medicolegal cases, the forensic pathologist must determine the cause of death and the circumstances of death, without any clinical history or clue to guide him except the lesion of trauma or disease which he discovers post mortem. The recognition of asphyxia as a cause of death at autopsy is occasionally difficult and requires considerable care, skill and understanding based on experience of the forensic pathologist. When a mechanical asphyxial death is suspected, the following method is a convenient routine procedure in our laboratory. 1. External Examination A systematic and careful examination of the external feature is made. 2. Internal Examination A "U" shaped incision is the most satisfactory method to inspect the internal tissues of neck in situ. 3. Laboratory Investigation The tissue examined routinely under the microscope are cervical lymph node, tongue, carotid body, lung, cortex of brain and skin. The heart's blood is collected to examine the fibrinolytic factors and thyroid hormones.